Lymphocyte Beryllium Binding: Relationship to Development of Delayed Beryllium Hypersensitivity

Beryllium binding to human and both inbred and outbred guinea pig lymphocytes has been characterized by Scatchard binding analysis. In isotonic media, only one class of binding sites, presumed to be located on the outer cell surface, was identified with a relatively low affinity (KA3-4 X 10(5) M-1). In hypotonic media in which the cells rupture, an additional class of binding sites, probably in the cell nucleus, is revealed with a higher affinity (KA1-2 X 10(6) M-1). Preliminary investigation of the high affinity binding in strain XIII guinea pig peripheral blood lymphocytes provides evidence that a greater level of beryllium binding may be predictive of the potential to express delayed beryllium hypersensitivity.